College Football Booms and Busts from Week 3 - Alabama, Florida, Missouri, Michigan State, more

September 19, 2023

Stephen's list of booms and busts from Week 3. Which teams unexpectedly boomed in Week 3? Which programs fell flat? Read the Week 3 college football review.

Each week in college football is an opportunity for teams to either boost their stock as we move closer to the postseason or lose momentum heading toward the coaching carousel and the transfer portal. Any given program can win a big game on a fall Saturday and feel like they are kings of the sport (see Colorado). On the flip side comes inexplicable losses that lead to message boards calling for the ousting of the coach, quarterback, and Athletic Director. 

Before we move into the Week 3 Booms and Busts, it is hard to believe we are at the quarter pole of the regular season. We were just at conference media days, waiting for the conference realignment messages to come across our phone screens. Unfortunately, the games go fast and it will be bowl season in the blink of an eye. Be sure to enjoy it while it lasts. 

Now to Week 3. While the schedule appeared to be lacking at first glance, there proved to be plenty of storylines that manifested themselves. There are plenty of teams whose star is burning a bit brighter, just as teams are wondering how to pick up the pieces. Week 3 was an appetizer to a loaded Week 4 slate. Before we move ahead, without further ado, the Booms and Busts of Saturday. 

College Football Booms From Week 3

Florida Gators

 To say the least, the Florida Gators needed this. Billy Napier really needed this. The Gators opened the season with a putrid showing in a loss at Utah and a week later followed that up with a win over FCS McNeese St.

A convincing win over Tennessee in front of the Gainesville faithful is just what the doctor ordered. Florida appeared in control the entire game and looked sharp on both sides of the ball.

Two weeks ago, Florida looked like it could struggle for bowl eligibility, but now have three winnable games in a row before their battle with Georgia in Jacksonville on October 28. Florida appears to have righted the ship and saved their season. Bonus points for the “Won’t Back Down” cell phone light show. What. A. Scene. 

Missouri Tigers

Next, we will keep it in the SEC and head to Columbia, Missouri, home of the undefeated Missouri Tigers. Head Coach Eli Drinkwitz went into this game with a 19-19 career record for Missouri, while the program felt like it was just spinning its tires under the fourth-year coach. A win over a top-15 team in dramatic fashion can completely change that perspective.

Kicker Harrison Melvis nailed a 61-yard field goal on the final play, and then the beautiful chaos of a field-storming celebration immediately ensued. Missouri will look to avoid a letdown against Memphis this week, followed by a home tilt with Vanderbilt. A potentially unbeaten Missouri team hosting LSU on October 7 could really make things interesting. 

Duke Blue Devils

The Duke Blue Devils are next up on the list. What a start to the season for Coach Mike Elko and company. While beating Northwestern is not a badge of honor these days, it was not long ago when any football victory was meaningful at Duke.

Coach Elko has changed expectations of the program, and autumn is not just a time to count down towards hoops season in Durham anymore. Riley Leonard continues his masterful season at quarterback, and Duke is gaining momentum toward competing for an ACC title. The biggest question at Duke will likely be whether they can keep their head coach around for next season.

College Football Busts From Week 3

Michigan State Spartans

On the other side of the coin, with each passing Saturday, some teams fall flat and begin to search for answers. No program fits that description more than the Michigan State Spartans. MSU had a golden opportunity to forget about some off-the-field troubles by welcoming future Big Ten rival Washington into East Lansing.

Unfortunately, Michigan State found themselves down 35-0 at halftime. This contest was never close as the nightmare for the Spartans continued. It appears that Michigan State will not be bowling this year, instead searching for their next head coach.

Heading south, the next stop on our bust tour is in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. No, they didn’t lose to South Florida, but a 17-3 win feels like a loss for the Crimson Tide. The sluggish performance compounded issues as it came on the heels of a home defeat at the hands of Texas.

Alabama slept-walk their way through four quarters on Saturday while displaying some of the worst quarterback and offensive line play in recent Alabama memory. Jalen Milroe appears to be the quarterback by default, and if Alabama wants to turn this around, they will need to build off of his strengths. He has a unique talent that can help the Tide get back into the thick of things as the national championship appears wide open.

Iowa State Cyclones

The final bust resides in Ames, where the Cyclones of Iowa State are quickly spinning out of control. A week after losing to Iowa in the Cy-Hawk Game, Iowa State laid another egg against Group of 5 Ohio. Failing to score until the fourth quarter and ultimately leaving with a 10-7 loss is tough to accept.

This defeat dropped Iowa State to 1-2 on the season heading into conference play, and the days of Brock Purdy and Breece Hall are in the rearview mirror. Head Coach Matt Campbell has had a fantastic run at Iowa State, but you have to wonder if it is finally time to move on.

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